Automatic sprinkler alarm valve



Sept. 21 1926.

1,600,468 F. HENNEBUHLE AUTOM ATIC SPRINKLER ALARM VALVE Filed Feb. 2. 1925 Hi-gin INVENTCR Fra/zK/ ennebbk/e.

' ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK HENNEBoHLE, :or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER ALARM vA-LvE.

Application fi1edilebruary"2, 1925. Serial No. 6,455. i l

The invention generally relates to valves and has for'its object to provide a valve structure adaptable for use in conjunction vvithan automatic sprinkler .system or the like for the :purpose of causing an alarm to "upon'ithe event :of a functioning of so much asa single sprinkler unit ofthat sprinkler system. i

- WVith the above. and other objects in view the invention further resides in the novel details of-construction, combination and arrangement 10f 'parts,jall of whichwill be ifirst fully described in the following specification, particularly pointed outin the appended :claim, and illustrated .in the accomipanyling drawing, in -which;:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section ;-of a" straight type of valve embodying my invention and also illustrates, diagrammatireally, several adaptations thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of an angled type of valve embodying my invention.

In the rformiof the invention shown in Figure 1 of the drawing 1 indicates the body of the valve which, in this adaptation, is of the globe type having the usual internally threaded and flanged passage extensions 2 and 3. The extension 2 is adapted to be connected with the pressure supply pipe 4 which is in turn connected with the elevated supply tank (not shown) and is hereinafter termed the inlet, while the extension 3 is connected with the conduit pipe 5 which is adapted to supply the water, under great pressure due to the elevation of the supply tank, to the many sprinkler heads or units (not shown), and is hereinafter termed the outlet.

The body 1 is provided with a cross web 6 bored at 7 to provide a horizontal piston valve seat.

A piston-valve 8 is vertically slidable in the body and is insertible thereinto through :the extension throat 9 which is screw-cap closed as at 10, the-said screw cap being bored at 11 to provide aguide for the vertically extended guide stem 12 of the said valve; 7 a j The vertical extension ofithe valve is provided with a crank receiving pocket, as at .13, and an upper and a lower crank engaging abutment 1-4:.

.A shaft or stud 15 is projected into the interior -:o;f the f-body .1 through the wall. thereof and has fixed upon the inner end thereof the short crank arm 16 in position for being engaged on top and bottom by the abutments 14 to be moved thereby as the piston valve is moved. "The outerendof the stud 15 has fixed thereon a crank arm 17 adapted :to be moved when the piston valve is moved for the purpose of causing a-warnging alarm or signal to be actuated.

In Figure 2 ofthe drawingis illustrated- .an -angled type of valve embodying the invention and in that figure all partsequiv- .alent to like parts .inFigure 1 are numbered accordingly withthe exponent w added thereto. In this form of the inventionit will be observed that the inlet enters the :bottom of the valve and that a cross web. is unnecessary as the piston valve seat .18 is formed rig-ht at-the end of that inlet pas- Saga In Figure .1 I have diagrammatically 1llustrated several means for connecting the crank arm 17 for audible signal actuation. In iull lines- I have shown that arm link connected as at 19 with a heavy knocker device 20 pivotally mounted in position for being tripped thereby to fall upon the warning gong or bell 21 when the valve is actuated by pressure loss in the manner soon to be described. In dotted lines I have shown a pull cord connection 22 with a whistle 23 and in dot and dash lines I have illustrated a circuit closer 24 carried by the crank 17 to be moved thereby to close the open energized circuit 25 in which is connected a'warning signal bell 26.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 1 the crank 17 will be moved downwardly when the piston-valve is opened. It will, of course, be obvious that by reversing the position of that crank on the stud 15 the same may be made to move upwardly, see Figure 2.

It will be well understood to those familiar with the installation and functioning of automatic sprinkler systems that water is supplied to them at a pressure, say for example at about 20 pounds per square inch, so that when some of the sprinkler units are automatically brought into function by heat action they will most effectively function to profusely sprinkle the whole of the area they duced even in the slightest possible degree,

' as by the automatic functioning of but a single sprinkler unit the equilibrium will be upset and the great pressure acting against. the bottom. surface of the piston-valve 8 through'the inlet side 2 will unseat the same and forcibly and positively eflect movement of the crank 17 to cause an actuation of the warning signal connected therewith.

To most positively and effectively actuate the warning alarm the crank 17 should have a quick, forcible, and relatively long movement.

achieved the ideal purpose above alluded to.

By the peculiar construction and arrangementof piston valve and crank-'1' have The valve 8 is not a common type of valve but is of a combined piston and valve nature having both aseating head and a depending,

snugly fitting solid skirt 27 so that the full force of the pressure will-positively be di- .rected to the crank action before opening of the valve and freepassage of water relieves such crank moving action.

Without this relatively long piston-like travel, connections made with an ordinary flat valve would only positively act through so small an interval that should any loose play exist between crank and signal connecwarning provided depending from the solid pistonvalve skirt 27.

It should be understood, of course, that the gong; whistle, and electric bell alarm devices diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 1 are not shown of proper proportionate size and merely serve to indicate means of; adapting the valve to practical use. The warning devices will be made of a size commensurate with the volume of warning they are designed to give.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it is thought the novel details of construction, manner of operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

Having thus described my. invention, what I claim is V.

' A valve for use in sprinkler systems including sprinkler heads and an alarm adapted to be sounded upon function of one or more sprinkler heads or otherleakage; said valve comprising a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a valve seat interposed between the inlet and theoutlet and a capped valve extensions, the upper of which extensions has",

an upper and lower abutment; and a crank device pivoted to the housing and having a short arm within said housing lying between the upper and lower abutment to be moved thereby when the piston valve is moved and a long arm outside said housing and movable with said short arm for the purposes specified.

FRANK HENNEBOHLE. 

